Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2026

Trans and Queer Visibility in an Era of Hyper Surveillance: A User Experience Study of University Systems for Sharing Gender Pronouns

McKinley Green George Mason University

Abstract

This paper reports on a user experience (UX) study investigating how college students navigate university-sponsored online systems for sharing chosen name and pronouns. While the opportunity to share gender identity ostensibly enables inclusive and usable systems for queer students, the visibility of gender nonconformity also imposes surveillance concerns, as pronouns have become an organizing tool for governments and university boards intent on limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Drawing from trans and queer scholarship, this article suggests that the concept of visibility should be closely scrutinized in design settings where heightened visibility can present risks to bodily autonomy or safety.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
10.1177/00472816251384913
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality technical communication race and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (16)

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CrossRef global citation count: 0 View in citation network →

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